Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship by Music Subcommittee of the Committee of Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - 2008

On November 14, 2007, this document was approved by the entire body of Latin Rite bishops of the Catholic Church in the U.S. Sing to the Lord is a successor to Music in Catholic Worship (1972) and Liturgical Music Today (1983), both authored by the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, now renamed the Committee on Divine Worship.

This document begins, appropriately, with a section entitled "Why We Sing." The authors provide a sound rationale for singing within the liturgy, as part of the liturgy. Moreover, this section a clear emphasis on the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, in its Constitution on the Liturgy. That teaching is normative: "Full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else." That participation, said the Council, is the "primary and indispensable source of the Christian spirit."

Sing to the Lord considers not only music in the Mass but also in the Liturgy of the Hours, in the sacraments, in other liturgical rites, and in devotions.

In some cases, liturgical reforms of the previous generation have not been rejected; they have simply not been tried. Here's one example. In 1972, Music in Catholic Worship put a low priority on the singing of litanies in the liturgy, such as the Prayer of the Faithful, the General Intercessions, and the the third form of the penitential rite. Now, the Instiutio Generalis of 2002 and Sing to the Lord of 2008 both emphasize the importance of singing such litanies and other forms of dialogue in the liturgy. In this respect, the principle of "progressive solemnity" is reversed, with good reason. Dialogues of this kind should indeed be sung, as a matter of course.

Sing to the Lord would be valuable for any priest, deacon, musician, or member of a liturgy planning committee. This document gives all of us clear guidance from official documents and pastoral experience. Don't leave home without it.